Why We Will Win on Gay Issues

The Washington Post notes today that evangelical leaders are moving beyond culturally divisive issue to embrace environmental and hunger issues. Why? Because that is what younger evangelicals care about, says Roberta Combs who is part of the new leadership of the Christian Coalition:

"We will never leave our core issues, never," Combs said. "But as more people get involved and as younger people get involved, there are other issues that come to the forefront, and we will be open-minded to take a look at them."

Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., pastor of Hope Christian Church, a 3,000-member congregation in Lanham, was among the signers of the Darfur appeal. He said he knows that some evangelicals are concerned that their clout will diminish if they take on too many issues. But, like Combs, he pointed to the need to address subjects that matter to young Christians.

The cultural war is being led by an older generation of evangelicals: Dobson, Robertson, Falwell, etc. Younger evangelicals, particularly those raised in urban areas, have grown up in a culture where gays are out of the closet, in the schools, on television, and living next door. In 20 years gay issues will cease to matter.

That doesn't mean we still won't be fighting it out in some of our churches, though. In our denomination, we still have strong pockets of those who believe women should have their heads covered, stay at home, and serve no leadership positions in the church. So there is no reason to expect gay issues to completely go away. But it won't be a mainstream issue of concern in the culture or within Christianity.